TheNewsGuru

Tag: rivers

  • Confusion in court as 2 lawyers appear in suit seeking Rivers expenditure shutdown

    Confusion in court as 2 lawyers appear in suit seeking Rivers expenditure shutdown

    There was confusion in a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, as two counsel announced appearance for Rivers House of Assembly in a suit seeking an order shutting down all expenditures of the state government.

    The Rivers assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, had filed the suit before Justice Emeka Nwite to restrain Gov. Siminalay Fubara of Rivers from having access to the state’s funds until he re-presents the appropriation law for the 2024 financial year before the house.

    In the originating summons dated July 14 but filed July 15 by their lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, the Rivers State House of Assembly and Right Honourable Martin Amaewhule are 1st and 2nd plaintiffs.

    They, however, sued the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Governor of Rivers, Fubara; and Accountant-General (AG) of Rivers as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

    Others include Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC); Chief Judge (CJ) of Rivers, Hon. Justice S.C. Amadi; Chairman of RSIEC, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd.) and Government of Rivers State as 7th to 10th defendants respectively.

    The plaintiffs sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the CBN, Zenith and Access Banks, including the AGF, from honouring any request or financial instruction issued by Fubara for revenue of Rivers State or Rivers State Government in their custody for the benefit of Rivers State or Rivers State Government.

    NAN reports that Justice Nwite had, on July 17, refused to grant the plaintiffs’ ex-parte motion moved by Sebastien Hon, SAN, for the suspension of the state’s expenditures pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    The judge, instead, ordered the plaintiffs to put all the defendants in the suit on notice and adjourned until Aug. 7 (today) for hearing.

    However, when the matter was called on Wednesday and the 1st and 2nd plaintiffs’ counsel, Mr Hon, announced his appearance, another lawyer, Sammie Soniari, SAN, stood up to also announce his representation for the 1st plaintiff (Rivers assembly).

    Soniari said pursuant to a notice of change of counsel filed on Aug. 5, he was in court to represent the house of assembly and also to appear for the applicant (RT Honourable Victor Oko Jumbo) seeking to be joined as co-plaintiff pursuant to the motion filed on Aug. 6.

    He said another motion on notice was filed on Aug. 6, seeking for an order striking out the name of the assembly from the originating summons.

    NAN observes that in the three motions filed, Soniari argued that an originating summons was filed on House of Assembly’s behalf without any authorisation.

    “Take notice that the 1st plaintiff herein has changed their Counsel, J. B. Daudu, SAN of J. B. Daudu & Co., and now briefed S. A. Somiari, SAN, MCIArb (UK) of Sammie Somiari & Associates for the purposes of legal representation in this suit,” the notice of change of counsel read.

    Also in the motion seeking for an order joining Jumbo in the case, Somiari argued that Amaewhule filed the suit without the leave and authority of the assembly.

    The lawyer submitted that Jumbo is the incumbent speaker of the 10th Rivers assembly and the statutory head of the arm of government.

    He said he was elected on May 8 following the resignation of the former Speaker, Edison Ehie.

    Somiari said on Dec. 11, 2023, Amaewhule, who was elected to represent his constituency at the Rivers assembly on the platform of the PDP,  publicly announced his defection to the APC, without any lawful justification, alongside several former members of the house.

    He said “following the said unconstitutional cross-carpeting” of Amaewhule and others, their legislative seats were declared vacant on Dec. 13, 2023 by the former speaker, “thereby leading to the cessation of their membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

    “The 2nd plaintiff, who is no longer the Speaker of the House of Assembly, cannot institute an action in that capacity,” he said, among other grounds.

    Another lawyer, Collins Dike, equally announced his appearance for Obio/Akor Local Government Council of Rivers as party seeking to be joined as 11th defendant in the matter.

    When Hon stood up to make his submission on the issue of change of counsel, Soniari objected, urging the court to direct Hon to file a formal application if he had contrary view.

    “If he has any query on the motion for change of counsel, he can put it in writing in accordance with Section 6(5)(c),” he said.

    But Hon insisted that based on the Supreme Court decision in Modu Sheriff Vs. PDP, the court could take his argument orally without filing a counter affidavit, citing Section 36(1) of the constitution.

    “We are here and representing a faction (of the house of assembly) that is recognised by law,” he said.

    Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, who appeared for Gov. Fubara, argued that Hon could not have been heard when there were motions for joinder.

    Iboroma argued that Order 9(16) of the Federal High Court Rules prescribed that issues of joinder had to be settled before the court proceed in the matter.

    The CBN’s lawyer, S.T. Ologunorisa, SAN, also disagreed with Hon on his submission.

    Ologunorisa said the issue of the plaintiffs and counsel in the case must be decided first so that he would know who he is responding to.

    Turudu Ede, SAN, who appeared for Rivers AG (6th defendant), aligned himself with the Ologunorisa’s submission.

    “We need to know who brought us to court first. That has to be sorted out first in this kind of situation because we have avalanche of papers to deal with,” he said.

    Isaac  Ita, who said he appeared in protest on behalf of the 10th defendant (Rivers State Government), argued that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter being a vacation court.

    Citing Order 46(5) of the Federal High Court Rules, he said besides that the matter was not file during vacation, there was no urgency that would have warranted hearing the suit during the vacation.

    But Justice Nwite informed that he was directed by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, to hear the matter as a vacation judge.

    “My Learner CJ gave me the order to continue this matter during vacation

    “Can I show you the authority given to me by my Learner CJ to continue this matter as vacation judge?” he asked.

    Hon, therefore, argued that the chief judge has the administrative power pursuant to the Federal High Court Act to give the directive.

    The judge said looking at the contention of parties, there were some issues that needed to be resolved before proceeding.

    Hon then sought for a 10-minute standdown to allow him consult with his team of lawyers and the application was granted.

    After the court reconvened, Hon applied for an adjournment to enable him respond to all the motions filed.

    The lawyer also applied for an abridgment of time within which parties could file and respond to processes in the suit.

    Justice Nwite, who adjourned the matter until Aug. 30 for hearing the motions, ordered parties to file and respond to processes within seven days of receipt of court documents.

  • Court restrains PDP, National Chairman, others from holding congress in Rivers

    Court restrains PDP, National Chairman, others from holding congress in Rivers

    A Rivers High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on Friday restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) from gathering or holding any congress in the state.

    The high court also restrained their agents from gathering anywhere in the 319 wards of the 23 local government areas in the state.

    The presiding Judge, Justice Charles Wali, g in a Judgement order obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), restrained the PDP National Chairman, Iliya Damagum and National Secretary, Sen.Samuel Anyanwu from holding the Congress.

    Wali also gave an interim injunction restraining the party agents from gathering anywhere in Rivers to hold Ward, LGA, or state congress pending the hearing and determination of suit no: PHC/2400/CS/2024 before him.

    The judge said that the injunction specifically prevented the defendants from conducting any congresses at the ward, local government, or state levels scheduled for July 27, Aug. 10 or Aug. 31.

    The court said that the measure would remain effective pending the hearing and determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction already filed.

    The court also ordered the Inspector General  of Police (IGP); Commissioner of Police, Rivers State; Director-General, Department Security Service (DSS); and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); to enforce the order on the specified dates or any other dates.

    Wali ordered that the motion on notice and the originating summons, including this order, be served on the Respondents through substituted means, specifically by publication in any widely read national newspaper in Rivers State.

    He said that the applicants would be mandated to pay damages to the Respondents if the application was found to be frivolous.

    According to him, the high court’s decision aims to ensure lawful proceedings within the state’s political framework and safeguard the legal process concerning the internal activities of the PDP.

    “The court underscores the importance of adherence to judicial orders and the potential consequences of non-compliance,” .

    The judge adjourned the hearing to August, 1, 2024.

  • Court declines to stop Fubara from spending Rivers funds

    Court declines to stop Fubara from spending Rivers funds

    A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja has refused to shut down all expenditures of Gov. Siminalay Fubara of Rivers pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit field by the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers Assembly.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24 and moved by Sebastien Hon, SAN, rather ordered the plaintiffs to put all the defendants in the suit on notice.

    Justice Nwite, however, granted another motion ex-parte by the plaintiffs to serve the 5th to 10th defendants with the originating process and other applications in the matter by substituted means.

    The judge said: “the leave is hereby granted to the plaintiffs/applicants to serve the 5th to 10th defendants/respondents with tne plaintiffs/applicants’ originating and any other process(es) filed or issued in this suit by substituted means to wit:

    “By publishing same in the Nation Newspapers.”

    Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until Aug. 7 for hearing of the motion on notice.

    NAN reports that the 5th to 10th defendants are  Fubara; Accountant-General (A-G) of Rivers; Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC); Chief Judge (CJ) of Rivers, Hon. Justice S.C. Amadi; Chairman of RSIEC, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd.) and Government of Rivers State respectively.

    The Rivers State House of Assembly and Right Honourable Martin Amaewhule (1st and 2nd plaintiffs) had, through their lead counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, filed the suit dated July 14 but filed July 15.

    They had sued the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    Also joined in the suit are Fubara, Rivers A-G, RSIEC, Rivers CJ, Chairman of RSIEC and Rivers government as 5th to 10 defendants.

    In the motion on notice brought pursuant to Order 28 Rules 1 and 2; Order 27 Rules 5; Order 28 Rule 1(2) of FHC Civil Procedure Rules 2009 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court, the plaintiffs sought two orders.

    They sought an order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from honouring any request, command, order or mandate or any banking or other instrument, financial instruction or other instructions issued by the 5th defendant.

    on his instruction or at his instance or deriving from the 5th defendant’s authority or in any manner, fund or revenue of Rivers State or Rivers State Government in the custody of the said the defendants, or held by the said defendants for the benefit of Rivers State or Rivers State Government or in any
    NAN reports that the two rulings, which were delivered on July 17 in the judge’s chamber, were obtained on Sunday in Abuja by NAN.

    The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers Assembly had, on July 15, suspended all expenditures of Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara until he re-presents his budget before the house.

    The lawmakers gave the governor a seven-day ultimatum to re-present his budget, which they said had expired.

    Rivers House Leader, Major Jack, moved the motion to bring up a resolution alerting the house of the governor’s seven-day deadline for presenting the 2024 budget to the house

    Following consideration, the assembly decided to shut down the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Account, prohibiting any expenditure by Gov. Fubara’s administration.

  • Rivers: Court stops INEC from releasing voters register for LG Polls

    Rivers: Court stops INEC from releasing voters register for LG Polls

    Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

    On Friday evening, Justice Lifu issued an order of interim injunction against INEC while delivering a ruling in a motion ex-parte brought before him by the All Progressives Congress (APC)

    The motion ex-parte was filed on behalf of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by a team of senior lawyers and brought under Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act, Order 26 Rules 1 and 3, order 28 Rules 1 and 2, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court as enshrined in Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Furthermore, the judge also ordered the Rivers Electoral Commission and Rivers Attorney-General from receiving from INEC or using part of the National Voters Register relating to Rivers State to conduct local government elections in the state.

    Additionally, Justice Lifu restrained the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Service (DSS) from participating or providing security protection for the Rivers State Electoral Commission to conduct local government elections in the state.

    Recall that Governor Fubara recently released names of caretaker chairmen to all the Local government Areas in the state.

     

  • Rivers Crisis: PDP Governors pledge support for Fubara

    Rivers Crisis: PDP Governors pledge support for Fubara

    Governors on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP), has pledged to support Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers on the crisis between him and his predecessor.

    The Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State made the pledge in a communique the forum issued  at the end of the forum’s meeting at the Government House, Enugu on Wednesday.

    According to him, the  forum  is aware of the ongoing crisis in Rivers and is committed to support Gov. Fubara as we resolved  that the issue should be settled  through political solutions.

    He said that all the leaders and organs of the party was committed to go together and resolve the issue with minimal division and rancour.

    “We will employ wider consultations with stakeholders for a peaceful resolution and thus find a lasting solution to the crises,” he assured.

    He explained that in the spirit of the founding fathers that they would adopt internal democracy as the fundamental principle on which the party was built during the party congress.

    The chairman stressed that congresses leading to the election of party leaders, at the various tiers, must be all-inclusive, transparent, fair and in strict compliance with the constitution of the party.

    Mohammed also commended the governors of PDP-controlled states for their innovative approaches to governance in many fields especially infrastructure, education, health, women and youth initiatives and the timely delivery of developmental projects, across the country.

    While recounting how successful the country was under PDP’s 16 years administration, Mohammed reiterated the party’s  commitment in restoring the nation’s past glory,

    According to him, the country witnessed a single digit inflation, the establishment of the existing anti-corruption institutions and higher standard of living for every Nigerian had been eroded during the life span of the lacklustre APC-led Federal Government.

    He added that the forum identified with the Nigerian populace in these troubling times and promised to bring back those good old days, of low inflation rate and  affordable food.

    Others were the fuel and transportation, steady FDI inflows resulting in high naira value and the greater quality of human life.

    He, therefore, called on all Nigerians to refrain from anarchy as they all march towards the return of the PDP to power in 2027.

  • LOGJAM! Rivers in panic mode as seven-day Budget ultimatum expires today

    LOGJAM! Rivers in panic mode as seven-day Budget ultimatum expires today

    Palpable fear in Rivers State, as the 7-day ultimatum by the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resubmit the 2024 budget expires today.

    The ultimatum, issued on July 8, will expire today if weekends are counted, or on Wednesday if they are excluded.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG, recalls the Assembly’s order came after a motion by Dumle Maol, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary.

    Maol, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the Pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly, urged the House to formally notify the governor to present the budget in light of a recent court ruling, which they believe affirmed their membership and validated Amaewhule’s leadership.

    The re-presentation of the budget was a key element of the presidential peace pact in December, aimed at resolving the political crisis in the South-South state.

    Previously, Governor Fubara had submitted the ₦800bn budget to the Assembly led by Edison Ehie who now serves as the Governor’s Chief of Staff.

    The faction of the Assembly is now led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.

    The budget, which was passed and signed into law, is still being implemented, suggesting that the peace agreement has faltered.

    Last week, Governor Fubara announced that his administration is already preparing the 2025 budget, indicating that the demand for the re-presentation of the 2024 budget is unrealistic.

    The crisis in Rivers State, which began about eight months ago, has continued to evolve.

    It started with a fire at the State House of Assembly in October, followed by an attempted impeachment of Fubara, massive resignations from the executive cabinet, and unrest over local government administration. This phase culminated in a failed attack on the Presidential Hotel.

    With the deadline for the 2024 budget presentation set for this week, the political climate in the state appears tense, as the assembly and the governor navigate the ongoing crisis.

    Meanwhile, Chijioke Ihunwo, a pro-Fubara politician from the same community as Amaewhule, has dismissed the 7-day ultimatum on the governor as laughable.

    Ihunwo, who was appointed by the governor as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, urged Amaewhule to accept his fate as a former assembly member, after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

    He encouraged the people of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, comprising Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, and Emohua Local Government Areas, to continue supporting the Governor under the leadership of former Senator John Azuta-Mbata.

    The politician, who was criticised for appointing 100 aides last week, said the decision which other CTC Chairmen are also implementing is aimed at bringing local government administration closer to the grassroots.

    He announced that more appointments would be made in the coming days, to demonstrate that the Fubara-led government is inclusive.

  • MASS defection: APC Secretary, youth leader, others dump party, join PDP with hundreds of supporters in Agbarho

    MASS defection: APC Secretary, youth leader, others dump party, join PDP with hundreds of supporters in Agbarho

    Barely six days to the Local Government Council elections in Delta State, over 500 members of the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC, including its Secretary, Youth Leader and other key stakeholders, Monday, defected to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Agbarho, Ughelli North.

    The decampees from the APC and other political parties were formally received into the PDP fold during a mega rally of the party in Agbarho by the Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, Pastor Kesiena Nomuoja, the Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Onoriode Aguofure and other stakeholders of the party.

    Addressing the decampees, the PDP Ughelli North Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, Pastor Kesiena Nomuoja said the harvest of the defectors was a proof that PDP was doing very well in Agbarho.

    He pointed that PDP was the only party on ground and has done so much for the people of Agbarho, adding that the forthcoming local government elections was going to be one hundred percent victory for the PDP.

    He assured the new members of a level playing ground for them, saying in the PDP there is no such thing as old or new members, but that all members are equal.

    He urged them to work hard for the party and ensure they woo others who according to him are still in the dark so as to secure total victory for the party not just in the coming local government elections but in all subsequent elections in the state.

    In the same vein, the State Commissioner for Transport, Onoriode Aguofure charged the decampees to be loyal and abide by the rules and regulations of the party, adding that there is enough dividends of democracy to go round.

    Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Joshua Ekwere, former APC youth leader in Ekwere-Agbarho said they have decided to join the PDP due to the good work they have seen being done by the present governor of the state, Sheriff Oborewori.

    He said, “I’m joining PDP today because I like what our governor is doing. All I have ever wished for was for a leader that will develop Delta state and make life better for her people. So when I see someone, in the person of Governor Sheriff Oborewori, and what he has been doing in just one year in office, I was marvelled. I said to myself, if someone is doing what I want for my people, the best thing to do is to join and support the person, that is why I’m here today to join the PDP.”

    Also speaking, a former APC leader in Agbarho, Chief Friday Obada said they were impressed by what the PDP was doing in the state and in Agbarho in terms of development and empowerment of her people.

    He promised to employ all necessary means to ensure that PDP wins all seats in the forthcoming local government elections and all other elections in the area.

  • Fresh Trouble looms as Pro-Wike lawmakers give Fubara 7 days to re-present budget

    Fresh Trouble looms as Pro-Wike lawmakers give Fubara 7 days to re-present budget

    The Rivers State House of Assembly faction,  loyal to former governor, Nyesom Wike, has given Gov. Siminalayi Fubara a seven-day ultimatum to re-present the 2024 budget of the state.

    The Speaker of the faction, Martins Amaewhule, gave the ultimatum during a sitting of the members in Port Harcourt on Monday.

    Fubara had presented the 2024 budget when his current Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie emerged as the speaker.

    Fubara had also signed the budget into law after its passage by the then Ehie-led assembly.

    Meanwhile, the Amaewhule-led faction  only resumed sitting on Monday after several months of legislative inactivity.

    A Rivers State High Court had held that Amaewhule and 24 other pro-Wike lawmakers had lost their seats after decamping from the Peoples Democratic party to the All Progressives Congress.

    In its judgment last week, the Court of Appeal overturned the lower court’s decision and declared Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the house.

    The appeal court held that the Rivers State High Court had no jurisdiction to hear matters relating to the decampment of lawmakers.

  • Pro-Fubara lawmakers to challenge appeal court verdict

    Pro-Fubara lawmakers to challenge appeal court verdict

    The faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, says it will challenge the verdict of the Appeal Court which declared Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the house.

    Oko-Jumbo, the Speaker of the assembly’s faction loyal to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, disclosed this during a sitting of the house in Port Harcourt in Friday.

    It would be recalled that the Appeal Court on Thursday, set aside a decision of the Rivers State High Court which declared that Martins Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers were no longer members of the assembly.

    The appeal court held that the Rivers State High Court had no jurisdiction to entertain issues relating to the decampment of lawmakers.

    Oko-Jumbo said that the assembly strongly believed that the appeal court was in error by declaring that a state high court could not hear such matter.

    ”I remain the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, there cannot be two houses of assembly in any state, not in Rivers,” he said.

    He further said that the seats of Martins Amaewhule and 24 others lawmakers were validly declared vacant by the then speaker, Edison Ehie.

    “On Dec.13, 2023, their seats were declared vacant following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on Dec. 11, 2023.

    “That declaration by the then speaker, Edison Ehie has not been set aside by any court in Nigeria,” he Oko-Jumbo said.

    The factional speaker further said that the assembly secured an order restraining Martins Amaewhule and the 24 other lawmakers from parading as speaker and members of the assembly.

    Oko-Jumbo said that the decision of the appeal court only dwelt on jurisdiction, and did not look at other critical issues such as their decampment to another party.

    “The Court of Appeal did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule and 24 others did not defect from the PDP to APC. It did not also make any declaration that they are still members of the house.

    “In spite all their pretences, Martins Amaewhule and the 24 others are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as we speak,” he said.

    Meanwhile, during the sitting, the Oko-Jumbo-led assembly considered two bills, which were also moved through first reading.

    The bills are, the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency Bill, 2024, and the Rivers State Transport Company Reform Bill, 2024.

  • ‘G60’ advises sacked Rivers lawmakers not to ”pressure” judiciary

    ‘G60’ advises sacked Rivers lawmakers not to ”pressure” judiciary

    Opposition Lawmakers in the House of Representatives under the aegis of the ” G60” have urged sacked Rivers lawmakers not to put undue pressure on the judiciary.

    The spokesperson for the group, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo) made the call while addressing newsmen in Abuja.

    He reacted to the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal on the 25 members of the Rivers House of Assembly who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and their seats were declared vacant in line with provisions of the Constitution.

    Ugochinyere said that the grand norm is very clear when it says, an elected member shall vacate his seat if he defects to another party against the laid down conditions of the Constitution.

    The lawmaker said that the conditions for defecting and remaining in office are when there is a division in a party or a merger of two or more parties.

    He said that the 28 former members of the state assembly defected against the provisions of the law and they remained sacked from the assembly unless a judgment of a competent court decides otherwise.

    “We are saying that we cannot continue to keep quiet, constitutional crisis overtime has led to the collapse of our democracy.

    “So all these crises and more pressure they are putting on judiciary to interpret what is clear to all of you is not necessary.

    “Section 109 (1G) is automatic, it goes into effect at the very moment you move when there was no division; you can go to court to prove that there was a division but they not doing that and there is no judgment or ruling in that aspect,” he said.

    The lawmaker said that Local Government Chairmen in the state whose tenure had expired and wanted to remain in office, should vacate their offices in interest of peace.

    He said that the tenure of a Local Government Chairman is clearly stated in the Constitution and cannot be extend by any other law or policy unless the Constitution is amended.

    Ugochinyere urged residents of Rivers to be vigilant and not to allow former lawmakers or former Local Government Chairmen to parade themselves as serving government officials.

    He said discussions in the country should focus on security, food price and other environmental issues and not a few politicians.

    NAN reports that the appeal court sitting in Abuja on Thursday vacated the order that sacked 25 members of the Rivers house of assembly who defected to the ruling  the APC.

    The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of Justices, on Thursday, held that the Rivers State High Court, which issued the order, lacked the requisite jurisdiction to do so.

    It upheld the appeal that was lodged before it by the lawmakers who were led by the embattled Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule.

    It will be recalled that Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court had on May 10, issued an interim injunction that restrained the embattled lawmakers loyal to the immediate past Governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, from parading themselves as members of the assembly, having defected from the political party that sponsored their elections.

    The court order followed a suit that was filed by Victor Oko-Jumbo who subsequently emerged as the Speaker of the Assembly.

    The litigants, who are loyal to the incumbent governor of the state, Siminialayi Fubara, in their suit, contended that Amaewhule and the 24 other defected lawmakers ceased to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly since Dec. 13, 2023, when their seats were declared vacant.

    While upholding the case of the plaintiffs, Justice Wali barred the pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the Assembly complex or carrying out any legislative assignment in the name of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    However, dissatisfied with the verdict, Amaewhule and his colleagues approached the appellate court to set it aside.

    They argued that the state high court acted beyond its jurisdiction when it issued the restraining order against them.

    NAN